2. Recent starters now covered by the furlough scheme – change of date from 28 February to 19 March

You can now claim for furloughed employees that were on your PAYE payroll on or before 19 March 2020 and which were notified to HMRC on an RTI submission on or before 19 March 2020.This means an RTI submission notifying payment in respect of that employee to HMRC must have been made on or before 19 March 2020.

Employees that were employed as of 28 February 2020 and on payroll (i.e. notified to HMRC on an RTI submission on or before 28 February) and were made redundant or stopped working for the employer after that and prior to 19 March 2020, can also qualify for the scheme if the employer re-employs them and puts them on furlough.

3. Letting the Baptist Pension Scheme know if you furlough at less than 100% of pay

If you are using -or intend to use - the Job Retention Scheme by furloughing an member of staff or minister who is a member of the Pension Scheme, and if you have agreed with the individual that you will furlough at less than 100% of normal pay, then you should advise the Pensions Manager by emailing the individual’s name and details of furlough package via an email to pensionshared@baptist.org.uk

A quick reminder that our Guide for Churches as Employers contains more detailed information on dealing with staff in relation to working from home, self-isolation, sick pay and furlough arrangements.

We are all aware that we are in extremely unusual times and there is much uncertainty about the future. The closing of our church buildings has had a major impact on our life together and presented challenges to how we operate as a church.